In a continuing effort to recognize the accomplishments of student-athletes beyond the field of competition, the SEC once again highlighted a Community Service Team for women’s basketball and Florida’sHaley Lorenzen was selected for the 2017-18 season.
This marks the 20th year for the SEC Community Service Team for women’s basketball as well as for men’s basketball. All league-sponsored sports have had a Community Service Team since 2004, with at-large teams for men’s and women’s sports being chosen from 1999-2003. The SEC began this concept with a football Community Service Team in 1994.
Lorenzen is Florida’s second-leading scorer and top rebounder with 12 double-doubles to her credit this season. Earlier this year, the 6-foot-3 forward from Iowa City, Iowa, became the 25th Gator to score 1,000 career points. Lorenzen is the 10th Gator to start 100 career games and has scored in every game except one that she has played, amassing a 103-game scoring streak.
She was voted by her peers Women’s Vice Chair of the 2017-18 SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council. Lorenzen earned bachelor’s degree in Event Management in May 2017 and is taking graduate coursework.
Lorenzen’s Volunteer Efforts – a glance at some of her projects:
- Volunteers her time at a number of local elementary schools and spending hours visiting children at UF Shands Hospital
- Caleb’s Pitch: a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating memorable experiences and enhancing the quality of life for children and families confronting serious childhood illnesses
- Climb for Cancer: a non-profit organization that sponsors children who have fought or are fighting cancer and gives them the opportunity to participate in a sports clinic that allows children diagnosed with cancer the chance to interact and participate in sporting events led by some of their favorite Gator student-athletes
- Gator Tracks: provides shoes for students in seven schools in Alachua County. Each day during a week in December, Gator student-athletes deliver shoes to one of the seven schools. Each class is greeted by Gator student-athletes who presented them with socks and shoes that were to be unwrapped and tried on
- Girls Place: a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering girls of all racial, religious and economic backgrounds to GROW confident, strong and independent in order to thrive in the world around them
UF Coach Cameron Newbauer on Lorenzen:
“Haley is the most genuine, sympathetic person I’ve ever met. She wants the best from everyone and will do anything she can to help them. You translate that into her senior year where she’s more vocal, maybe more encouraging and getting on teammates here and there when they need it. Everyone knows how much she cares about them. She’s crafted that role and done so many things for our team. We’re not even talking about her effort on the court: the double-doubles, the big shots late in the shot clock – just her effort is tremendous. I’m so thankful I’ve had the opportunity to coach her.â€
The complete 2018 SEC Women’s Basketball Community Service Team
Ashley Williams • Alabama
Senior • Forward • Covington, Ga.
Big Al’s Kids Club … Hurricane Harvey Relief … UA’s Halloween Extravaganza … 5th Grade Fastbreak … Visited with patients in the DCH Pediatric unit and residents of Capstone Village Retirement Community … Walk to Remember for Alzheimer’s … Habitat for Humanity build … Shutout Human Trafficking … National Salute to Veterans.
Keiryn Swenson • Arkansas
Junior • Forward • Wichita, Kansas
Chairwoman of our Student-Athlete Advisory Committee’s (SAAC) Community Service committee… Feed My Starving Children at an area Boys and Girls Club… The Razorback Canned Food Drive… Shopping with the Razorbacks in which student-athletes rained $1,837.00 to take 10 local elementary kids shopping at Toys R Us… Razorback Lip Sync Battle which raised over $500 for a local charity… Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Youth Day Activities.
Bria Johnson • Auburn
Senior • Guard • Baton Rouge, La.
Has served as Auburn’s SAAC Community Service Coordinator … Also participated in Blessings in a Backpack with the Jason Dufner Foundation, helped the Auburn women’s team serve the Boykin Day Care Center, and volunteered with Our House … Project Uplift mentor … Volunteered with Juvenile Justice Ministry … Led a poetry workshop for middle school students in Tuskegee … Fed the homeless in Atlanta … Participated in Serve Day with Church of the Highlands … Currently planning a community service project for April.
Haley Lorenzen • Florida
Graduate • Forward • Iowa City, Iowa
Volunteers her time at a number of local elementary schools and spending hours visiting children at Shands Hospital… Caleb’s Pitch, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating memorable experiences and enhancing the quality of life for children and families confronting serious childhood illnesses… Climb for Cancer, a non-profit organization that sponsors children who have fought or are fighting cancer and gives them the opportunity to participate in a sports clinic that allows children diagnosed with cancer the chance to interact and participate in sporting events led by some of their favorite Gator student-athletes… Gator Tracks, Gator Tracks provides shoes for students in seven schools in Alachua County. Each day during a week in December, Gator student-athletes deliver shoes to one of the seven schools. Each class is greeted by Gator student-athletes who presented them with socks and shoes that were to be unwrapped and tried on… Girls Place, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering girls of all racial, religious and economic backgrounds to GROW confident, strong and independent in order to thrive in the world around them.
Mackenzie Engram • Georgia
Senior • Forward • Powder Springs, Ga.
Voted by student-athletes across the University of Georgia as the winner of the prestigious Clifford Lewis Leadership Award — an honor given to one female student-athlete who demonstrates a commitment to a group of individuals above personal gain…Sits on the social subcommittee of SAAC where she plans events like the Winter Formal for all Georgia student-athletes to raise money for UGA Miracle.
Makenzie Cann • Kentucky
Senior • Guard • Lawrenceburg, Ky.
Has volunteered over 150 hours at the Lexington Humane Society working closely with the marketing and fundraising team … Spent time building houses and a local park with Habitat for Humanity … Has spent 20-plus hours at Commonwealth City Church, bringing her two dogs to play and interact with kids in the afterschool program … Visited with children at the UK Children’s Hospital and Breakfast with Santa program … Has packed and delivered backpacks to local kids for God’s Pantry Food Bank … Has volunteered at several local elementary schools afterschool program and spent an afternoon at the local YMCA playing basketball with kids.
Raigyne (Moncrief) Louis • LSU
Senior • Guard • Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Camp counselor for LSU women’s basketball camps and clinics… Tutor at Full Gospel Christian Center… Involved with team activities with Toys For Tots, the Alzheimer’s Walk/Run and youth Halloween events… Volunteer at Charlie’s Place, an activity and respite center for individuals with early to mild stage Alzheimer’s and dementia-related disorders designed to provide cognitive stimulation and social interaction while giving caregivers a much-needed break… Volunteer with local youth organizations in Baton Rouge – organizing activities, reading… Volunteer with team at local Baton Rouge retirement village – singing Christmas carols, assisting with Mardi Gras celebration… Volunteer at the YMCA.
Shandricka Sessom • Ole Miss
Senior • Guard • Byhalia, Miss.
Has made many visits to nursing homes, hospitals and elementary schools… Visited an orphanage in Costa Rica… More Than a Meal… Reading with The Rebels… Boys and Girls Club… Hosting Shriner’s Child… The Marks Project… Dunk or Treat… Books and Bears.
Blair Schaefer • Mississippi State
Senior • Guard • Starkville, Miss.
Been an active part of the community, earning the honor her past two seasons… Has been a SAAC representative and a member of the SEC basketball student-athlete council… Did an internship with Entertainment Tonight… Has assisted with the T.K. Martin Center Fun Run, judged talent shows for Camp Jigsaw, a camp for youth with autism… Been a regular at Bully’s Book Blitz and the Starkville School District’s Breakfast of Champions… Has also volunteered with Special Olympics, Walk To School Day and Step Up For Kids.
Sophie Cunningham • Missouri
Junior • Guard • Columbia, Mo.
Has worked with the Douglas Park Boys & Girls Club clinics… the Red Shoe Race benefitting the Ronald McDonald House… Bowling for Autism… the Show Me State games… the NSAD Special Olympics Buddy program… Voluntary Action Center Christmas Distribution to those in need… various youth basketball clinics at the arena and the annual Hoops for a Cause Boys & Girls Club fundraiser… visits the MU Children’s Hospital in her spare time… Working alongside the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Columbia each year… a part of the National Student Athlete Day benefiting Special Olympics in the community.
A’ja Wilson • South Carolina
Senior • Forward • Hopkins, S.C.
Works with her sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc., on service projects in addition to her work through the team … Helped with beautification of local park, planting flowers, painting bleachers and refilling play areas with sand … Read books to children at the Children’s Center at USC … Participated in a back to school pep rally at Pontiac Elementary School … Does speaking engagements throughout the year for various groups.
Mercedes Russell • Tennessee
Senior • Center • Springfield, Ore.
Member of the University of Tennessee Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, assisting in planning of community service events by UT student-athletes…Participated in Hoops for Hope, bringing visibility to the Down Syndrome Awareness Group of East Tennessee…Participated in Voloween, a Halloween event in which student-athletes host children in costume for an evening of games and treats at UT’s Neyland-Thompson Sports Complex…Participated in the Community Holiday Meal, a joint venture between Volunteer Ministries and the Student-Athlete Advisory Council that provided members of Knoxville’s homeless community with a holiday meal and toiletry kit…Took part in hosting the Christmas Party and Holiday Cookie Decorating Contest for children undergoing treatment at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital… Participated in Rocky Top Tip-Off, a fan interaction event taking place at the beginning of basketball season.
Anriel Howard • Texas A&M
Junior • Forward • Atlanta, Ga.
Volunteered at the Aggieland Humane Society, which provides humane care and placement for homeless and abandoned animals … Participated in Aggies CAN, which is the nation’s largest student-athlete run food drive … Helped sort food items at the Brazos Valley Food Bank … Spoke to and read to local elemepntary school children as part of a mentorship program … Helped fundraise for refurbishments for public parks in the Brazos Valley … With her team, visited the Texas Children’s Hospital to speak to patients
Kaleigh Clemons-Green • Vanderbilt
Sophomore • Guard • Chattanooga, Tenn.
Bag stuffing and delivering to local homeless community… Spend time with children at Harvest Hands after school program… Vanderbilt Athletic Department Hurricane Harvey drive… Trick or Treat with the Greeks… 2017 SAAC Holiday Party with local Metro Nashville school children… Women’s Basketball Homeless Drive.
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